HYBRID COLLAPSIBLE CRATE
A container includes a base having end edges and side edges. The base includes a plurality of regions including a center region, corner portions, side regions between the corner portions and between the center portion and the side edges, and end regions between the corner portions and between the center portion and the end edges. The center region is reinforced differently from the side regions, end regions, and corner regions. The corner regions are reinforced differently from the side regions and the end regions. The center region has no ribs protruding downwardly. A plurality of walls extending upward from the side edges and the end edges of the base.
Collapsible crates include a base and a plurality of walls hingeably connected to the base. When empty, the walls can be collapsed onto the base (or outward of the base) to reduce their volume for shipping and storage. Typically, the base includes an upper surface upon which goods are supported and a plurality of ribs extending downward therefrom to reinforce the base.
SUMMARYGenerally, the base of the crate is designed to have many smooth, flat surfaces on a lower surface of the base, rather than on the upper surface of the base. Any ribs on the lower surface of the base are recessed or flush with adjacent horizontal wall portions. A large majority of the lower surface of the base is the horizontal wall portions providing smooth flat surfaces. In particular, in a center region of the base, there are only horizontal wall portions (or a single large horizontal wall portion) with a plurality of ribs projecting upwardly therefrom. There are no ribs or other projections on the underside of the center region of the base. Further the density of the ribs in the center region is higher than in other regions of the base to increase stiffness.
When the crate is stacked on top of another crate and both crates are loaded with items, especially heavy items like meat, the base will deflect downward. The center region of the base will deflect downward the most. If the crates contain bags, such as modified atmosphere package (MAP) bags, containing meat or other product, the base of the upper crate may contact the bags (or other packaging) in the lower crate. The smooth lower surfaces of the base prevent damages to the bag or other packaging in the lower crate. Again, because the center region of the upper crate will deflect downward the most, the center region has an increased area of smooth, flat surfaces on the lower surface (e.g. 100%). The increased concentration of ribs extending upward in the center region also increases the rigidity of the center region and reduces deflection.
Other regions of the base may contain alternating or otherwise mixed upper horizontal wall portions with ribs projecting downward and lower horizontal wall portions with ribs projecting upward. The ribs projecting downward are recessed or flush with the lower horizontal wall portions, again to protect a bag or other packaging in the lower crate. It has also been found that this arrangement increases the overall stiffness of the base.
Additionally, in one example disclosed herein, all four walls are provided with handle openings, while in the other example disclosed herein, only the two shorter walls have handle openings.
One example of a collapsible crate 10 according to the present invention is shown in
The end walls 16 have handle openings 18 formed therethrough. The side walls 14 have handle openings 20 formed therethrough. Latches 22 (only one visible) selectively connect adjacent side walls 14 and end walls 16 in a known manner. End upstanding flanges 17 project upward at ends of the base 12 and are formed integrally with the base 12. In
Where the diagonal ribs 37 intersect one of the recessed portions 40, they are recessed relative to or flush with the raised portions 42. Likewise, when one of the diagonal ribs 37 intersects one of the raised portions 42 they are recessed relative to or flush with the adjacent horizontal wall portions of the adjacent recessed portions 40.
The side regions 34 each include a plurality of mostly alternating raised portions 48 and recessed portions 46. Where there are adjacent raised portions 48, a rib 50 is defined therebetween, but the rib 50 is recessed relative to or flush with the horizontal wall portions of the nearest recessed portions 46. Drainage apertures are formed through every horizontal wall portion.
In the center region 36, there are a plurality of intersecting ribs 57 extending upward from a plurality of horizontal wall portions 58 or panel portions. In the center region 36, there are no ribs exposed in the downward direction. There are only horizontal wall portions 58 at the bottom of the center region 36. This is because the center region 36 will deflect downward more than any other region because of the weight on the base 12. The center region 36 is most likely to deflect downward and contact the bag or other packaging in the crate stacked there below. The horizontal wall portions 58 will not tear the bag or other packaging. Drainage apertures are formed through every horizontal wall portion.
The end region 32 includes a plurality of rows parallel to the end edge of the base 12. Each alternate row includes either a plurality of raised portions 54 or a plurality of recessed portions 52. Each raised portion 54 includes a horizontal wall portion and each raised portion is separated by a rib projecting downward from the horizontal wall portions. Likewise, each recessed portion 52 includes a horizontal wall portion at a lower end thereof. The recessed portions 52 are separated by ribs extending upward from the horizontal wall portions. Elongated apertures are formed in the horizontal wall portions of both the recessed portions 52 and the raised portions 54. The apertures are elongated in a direction parallel to the side edges of the base 12.
As can also be seen in
The end walls 116 have handle openings 118 formed therethrough. Latches 122 (only one visible) selectively connect adjacent side walls 114 and end walls 116 in a known manner. End upstanding flanges 117 project upward at ends of the base 112 and are formed integrally with the base 112.
As before, the side walls 114 each include an outermost portion having an uppermost surface that is the highest surface of the crate 110 and just inward of the outermost portion is a tapered portion. However, in this embodiment, the small flanges of the side walls 114 are the same height as the side walls 114.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent preferred embodiments of the inventions. However, it should be noted that the inventions can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. Alphanumeric identifiers on method steps are solely for ease in reference in dependent claims and such identifiers by themselves do not signify a required sequence of performance, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
Claims
1. A container comprising:
- a base, the base including a center region having a plurality of horizontal wall portions and a plurality of ribs extending upward from the plurality of horizontal wall portions; and
- a plurality of walls extending upward from the base.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein there are no ribs projecting downward of the plurality of horizontal wall portions in the center region.
3. The container of claim 2 wherein the center region is approximately ⅓ a width of the base.
4. The container of claim 3 wherein the plurality of walls are pivotably connected to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.
5. The container of claim 3 wherein the plurality of ribs includes a plurality of first ribs extending parallel to side edges of the base, a plurality of second ribs extending parallel to end edges of the base, and diagonal ribs extending diagonally relative to the base.
6. The container of claim 5 wherein the base further includes a plurality of corner regions each including a plurality of alternating raised portions and recessed portions, wherein each raised portion includes an upper panel portion and each recessed portion includes a lower panel portion.
7. The container of claim 6 wherein the diagonal ribs extend through the center region and the corner regions.
8. A container comprising:
- a base having end edges and side edges, the base including a plurality of regions including a center region, corner portions, side regions between the corner portions and between the center portion and the side edges, and end regions between the corner portions and between the center portion and the end edges, wherein the center region is reinforced differently from the side regions, end regions, and corner regions, wherein the corner regions are reinforced differently from the side regions and the end regions; and
- a plurality of walls extending upward from the side edges and the end edges of the base.
9. The container of claim 8 wherein there are no ribs projecting downward in the center region.
10. The container of claim 9 wherein the center region has a plurality of lower panel portions and a plurality of ribs extending upward from the plurality of lower panel portions.
11. The container of claim 10 wherein the center region is approximately ⅓ a width of the base.
12. The container of claim 11 wherein the plurality of walls are pivotably connected to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.
13. The container of claim 12 wherein the plurality of ribs includes a plurality of first ribs extending parallel to side edges of the base, a plurality of second ribs extending parallel to end edges of the base, and diagonal ribs extending diagonally relative to the base.
14. The container of claim 13 wherein the corner regions each include a plurality of alternating raised portions and recessed portions, wherein each raised portion includes an upper corner panel portion and each recessed portion includes a lower corner panel portion.
15. The container of claim 14 wherein the diagonal ribs extend through the center region and the corner regions.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 16, 2022
Publication Date: Mar 16, 2023
Inventor: Daniel Vincent Sekowski (Loganville, GA)
Application Number: 17/946,631